Leather Jackets

Upon release, Leather Jackets was a critical and commercial failure, stalling at number 91 in the US — the lowest-charting studio album of the artist's career — and reviews have been largely negative, with the artist himself calling it the worst of his career. Critics and listeners alike single this out as a low point in an otherwise storied catalog. Even with the same producer behind it who helmed several of the artist's most beloved records, the songwriting here is considered weak, with heavily synth-driven production and vocals that sound worn and strained.

The record's sound is frequently described as a dated, over-processed product of its era — reviewers have pointed to "terrible cheesy synths that scream mid-80s" alongside lyrics widely seen as weak. Listening through, the songs are generally regarded as unengaging and unimaginative, largely treading water rather than pushing anywhere interesting. That said, there is some agreement on a few bright spots: a ballad duet featuring a guest vocalist is seen as one of the record's better moments, bolstered by warm string arrangements, and the closing track is often singled out as the one song that breaks away artistically, featuring an unusually strange arrangement with a soulful, heartfelt vocal.

Beyond the music itself, the album's failings are sometimes contextualized by the personal turmoil surrounding its creation — recording coincided with a period of personal difficulty, including vocal struggles caused by polyps on the vocal cords, which required surgery the following year. Critics don't meaningfully disagree on the overall verdict here; the consensus is remarkably unified that this is a career nadir, with only minor disputes over which one or two tracks manage to rise above the rest.